Staple driving device



April 12, 1949. e. M. G. MAKIN STAPLE DRIVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1945 v INVENTOR 67/65 M 6':

ATTORN EY5 April 12, .1949. G. M. G. MAKlN STAPLE DRIVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25. 1945 TM ATToRN EYS INVENTOR I 67/63) M @Ma/fm,

BY W Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES ATE-NT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in staple driving devices, being concerned more particularly with a magazine feed type of device.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character generally described which may be manipulated accurately and with facility and wherein the staples are automatically fed to a driving position incident to the use of the device.

A further object is to provide a device which will readily and automatically clear itself of any free cement which may have been employed in holding the staples together in stick form.

Astill further object is to provide for facility in loading the device with the staples to be driven, this object contemplating a device which may be readily reloaded without regard to the number of staples remaining in the magazine at such time.

A still further object is to provide a device which may be used to re-strike a staple as many times as may be necessary in the event that the initial blow proves inadequate to drive it into the work to the desired extent.

A still further object is a novel design and arrangement of the parts of the device whereby to provide for simplicity and economy in construction and dependability in operation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a stapling device embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the stapling device;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the head portion of the device taken along line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal detail section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure5 is a transverse section taken along line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the feed bar of the device; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1'! of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The stapling device, as illustrated, includes two mating half sections In and II which, being of substantial height at one end, form a head portion and which are of reduced height at the opposite end, being formed at the latter end to provide a handle. The two half sections of the head portion are formed with pairs of aligned ears l2 for accommodating suitable screws while 'a cap-piece l3 fits over and is suitably secured to the terminal portions of the two half sections at the handle end.

A staple support bar I4 is housed within the half sections I0 and H, extending substantially the full length of the latter but terminating short of the end wall provided by the abutting flanges 15. The staple support bar l4 serves as a holder and guide for a stick (conventional or otherwise) of staples 16. The latter are supported in an inat the head end is channel-shape in cross section.

At the head end, an insert I! which is suitably" secured between the sides of the feed bar provides an anvil, the upper edge of the anvil occupying the same plane as the upper edges of the sides of the feed bar.

A follower I8, which is adapted to slide freely along the staple support bar M, has side flanges H] which overlie the upper marginal edges ofthe sides of .the feed bar and ashoulder 20 which is located between the sides of the feed bar. A compression spring 2|, which is located in the outer end of the feed bar, acts upon the shoulder '20 of the follower l8 and the latter in response 'to the spring acts upon the stick of staples I6 "to feed the latter along the feed bar. The spring may, as shown, be in the form of a flat strip of spring metal folded back and forth upon itself so that it may be readily accommodated in the channel of the feed bar.

The abutting flanges of the housing sections l0 and Il are cut away at their lower ends to form an opening 22 through which the stick .of staples to be arranged upon the .feed bar may he introduced into the device. The opposite side walls of the said sections are also cutaway as indicated at 23 to expose and provide access to the end of the feed bar. The openings 22 and 23 however are normally closed by a channelshaped member 24 having side flanges 60. The front wall of the latter contacts the flanges 15 of the housing sections and normally occupies a lowered position in which its front wall closes the opening 22 and its side flanges close the openings 23. When it occupies the position described, the leading staple of the stick is held against the inner wall of the closure member by the action of the spring 2!. In this connection it will be noted that the end of the staple support bar is spaced from the inner wall of the closure member a distance slightly greater than the width of the individual staples and hence that when the leading staple is supported in the position described it is clear of the anvil, being supported in such position by its adhesive connection with the adjacent staple.

A driver element is indicated at 25, being mounted for reciprocatory movement in guide ways 26 provided in and at opposite sides of the closure member 24 by flanges 26 which extend inwardly from the side flanges 60 of the closure member. The driver normally occupies the position shown in Figure 3, in which position its lower end is located directly over the leading staple of the stick Hi. The mechanism for actuating the driver includes an arm 21. The latter is pivotally mounted between the side walls of the housing sections upon a pin 28 and at its forward end is notched as at 29 to accommodate a projection 30 which is formed on the back of the driver. The arm 21 is normally held in the upper position shown (corresponding to the retracted position of the driver) by a spring 3| (Figure 1) which is normally held under compression between a depending lever portion 32 on the arm 21 and an abutment 33 formed on the housing sections.

Thelever portion 32 of the arm 2'! also carries a cross pin 34, the opposite ends of which extend through the opposite sides of the housing sections, the latter being suitably cut away as indicated at 35 to accommodate the cross pin and to permit movement thereof in the manner to be described. In order to actuate the arm 21, and hence the driver 25, the device carries a striker 36. The latter includes spaced-apart arms 37 whichare located at opposite sides of the housing sections and which are generally triangular in shape. The arms 31 are pivotally connected to the housing sections upon a pin 38 which is carried by a rearward extension 39 of the insert I1, the said extension as best shown in Figure 6 projecting below the side walls of the feed bar. Above the pin 38, the arms 31 are slotted as indicated at 40 to accommodate the opposite ends of the cross pin 34. At their forward ends, the arms 3'! extend beyond the housing sections and are connected by a transverse web 4!. The connected forward ends of the arms 31 are normally located below the housing sections, being held in such position by the spring 3!.

In the use of the device, the forwardly-extending end of the striker is struck against the area in which the staple is to be driven. When the device is manipulated in this manner the striker 36,

upon impact with the surface of such area, is pivoted upon the pin 38 and its rocking movement is transmitted through the arms 31 to the arm 27, thereby causing the free end of the latter to move downwardly. As this occurs, the driver 25 is also moved downwardly to separate the leading staple from the stick and drive it into the surface struck in the manner described. When the force of the blow has been expended, the spring 3| operates automatically to restore the parts to their original positions, the spring 21 feeding the staple stick forwardly to advance the succeeding staple against the closure member as the driver 25 returns to its elevated, retracted position. Any cement employed in connection with the staples to hold the staples together in a stick and which may become separated or loose as a result of the driving ofthe staples in the manner described escapes through ports 42 which are formed in the opposite sides of the closure member 24, which ports register with the openings 23 in the sides of the housing sections. The staples intended to be used with this device are available in a form wherein the stick is assembled and films of plastic adhesive material are applied to the outer surface of the staple legs. These films are usually applied in a liquid state and when dried form a tough and self-supporting film acting to hold the stick in assembled relation. As the staples are successively driven from the end of the stick the action is such that the staple is merely stripped from the end portion of the film which latter remains attached to the remainder of the stick of staples. The portion of the film adjacent the legs of the staple being driven will have the efEect of stabilizing or guiding the staple during the driving movement. As successive staples are driven from the stick and the stick is advanced toward the closure 24, the free end of the plastic adhesive films will be enabled, in the present structure, to continue moving forwardly through the ports 42 in the closure and the openings 23 in the housing to the exterior of the device where they may be readily disposed of and will not interfere with the advance of the stick of staples.

It is to be noted that the stapling device is suitably small in size so that it may be yielded in the manner of a hammer, the reduced extensions of the housing sections providing, as noted, a handle for the device.

The closure member 24 is normally locked in the position illustrated but may be unlocked and elevated so that new sticks of staples may be introduced into the magazine as occasion may require. For this purpose, a tube 43 (Figure 4) is carried between the side flanges of the closure member. Locking pins 44 which are accommodated in the opposite ends of the tube 43 are normally biased to extended positions by a spring 45, the range of movement of the locking elements being limited by pins 56 which are accommodated in slots il at the ends of the tube 43. The slot and pin connections described permit movement of the locking elements to extended positions in which they enter aligned openings 41' in the side walls of the housing sections, the openings 4? being so located that entry of the locking elements into them will be effected automatically when the closure member is located in its normal,

" or closed, position. Depressible buttons 43 which are carried by bosses 49 on the side walls of the housing sections have shank portions which are engageable with the pin 44 when the latter occupy the openings ll. By depressing the buttons 48 the locking elements 44 may be moved to positions in which they are located wholly within the tube 43. When so located the closure member 24 may be elevated to provide ready access to the staple magazine. Movement of the buti tons 48 for the purpose described is limited by pins 50 which are accommodated in slots 5| in the bosses 49.

In the lowered position of the closure member 24 the tube 43, as best shown in Figure 3, engages a tail piece 5| of a, pawl 52 to hold a nose portion 53 of the pawl out of engagement with the stick of staples 16. When the closure member is moved upwardly, however, to provide access to the magazine, the spring 5 1 moves the nose 53 of the pawl into engagement with the staples on the feed bar and holds the latter against any movement as a result of the spring 2!. The pawl, however, will permit a new stick of staples to be placed over the feed bar and moved along the latter against the action of the spring and is operative to prevent subsequent movement of the staples in a feed direction until after the closure member has been lowered, it being noted that as the closure member is lowered the tube 43 engages the tail piece of the pawl 52 .to actuate,-

distaste S the latter and thereby release the staples so that they may be fed forwardly along the feed bar in the manner described.

In the elevated position of the closure member, the tube 43 is located beneath and adjacent the projection 30 on the driver 25. Hence the closure member may be moved to its closed, locked position, either by the application of manual pressure to the head 55 of the said member or by a blow against the striking member 36. It will be apparent that if the latter method is used the resultant downward movement of the end of the arm 27 will carry the driver with it and the movement of the latter will be transmitted to the closure member through the agency of the projection 30 and the tube 43. Movement of the closure member toward its closed position will, in any event, continue until the closure member reaches the position in which it is locked against further movement by the locking elements 44.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in the use of the device the staples may be driven until the supply in the magazine ha been depleted. During such use of the device the pawl 52 is wholly disengaged from the staple stick and hence the latter is free to advance along the feed bar in response to the spring-biased follower I8 without any wearing action on the pawl. If in the use of the device the force of the blow struck is inadequate to drive a staple into the work to the extent desired, the device may be readily manipulated so that the head 55 of the closure member may be utilized in applying any further blows necessary to complete the driving of such staple.

As noted the device has the advantage that it automatically clears itself of any cement or other adhesive material which may be employed in holding the staples together in stick form. Jamming of the device is thus avoided, it being apparent that if such provision for the escape of the cement or adhesive were not made the staples would not be fed properly for driving in the manner described. In other words the leading staple would not be permitted to advance to a position against the closure member, this being necessary if the driver is to function properly. In use therefore the device, as a result of clearing of the adhesive or cement in the manner described, will not jam. Nor will it become necessary to open the closure member from time to time to clear the device of accumulated cement or adhesive.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications may be availed of within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described including a magazine for staples to be driven, a closure through which access may be had to said magazine, a driving element carried by said closure, a pivotally mounted arm for actuating said driving element, and a pivotally mounted impactresponsive member for actuating said arm.

2. A device of the character described including a magazine for staples to be driven, a housing enclosing said magazine and having an opening through which access may be had to said magazine, a slidable closure for said opening, a pair of axially movable pins carried by said closure and engageable in apertures in said housing for releasably securing said closure in a closed position, a driving element carried by said closure, and impact-responsive means for actuating said element.

3. A device of the character described including a feed bar for supporting staples to be driven, a closure through which access may be had to said feed bar, the leading end of said feed bar being located in spaced relation with respect to said closure, means for advancing said staples along said feed bar so that the leading staple engages said closure, a driving element carried by said closure, a pivotally mounted arm for actuating said driving element, and an impact-responsive member for actuating said driving arm.

4. A device of the character described including a magazine for staples cemented together in stick form, a closure which may be moved to an open position and through which access may be had to said magazine, a driving element carried by said closure, and an impact-responsive member for actuating said driving element, said closure being formed with ports at opposite sides of the stick of staples and adjacent the leading staple through which material employed in securing the staples together in the manner described may escape.

5. In a device of the character described having a, magazine to support a stick of staples held together by a film of adhesive material extending along their sides, a housing having an opening providing access to said magazine, a closure movable on said housing to a position to close said opening, latch means for holding said closure in closed position, means for feeding said stick of staples toward said closure, and means for driving the staple adjacent said closure from said stick and into a work piece, said closure having elongated openings in longitudinal alignment with the film of adhesive material carried by said staples so as to permit any adhesive material loosened from the staple being set to escape.

GILES M. G. MAKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,671,733 Maynard May 29, 1928 1,687,871 Maynard Oct. 16, 1928 1,879,987 Maynard Sept. 27, 1932 2,001,092 Cavanagh May 14, 1935 2,031,320 Kuch Feb. 18, 1936 2,037,334 Maynard Apr. 14, 1936 2,245,506 Skrebba June 10, 1941 2,251,917 Crosby Aug. 12, 1941 2,281,232 Cavanagh Apr. 28, 1942 2,325,341 Polzer July 27, 1943 2,345,267 Keil Mar. 28, 1944 2,375,419 Krantz May 8, 1945 

